Nathan Pflugmacher

The Gettysburg Address was one of the most successful speeches in American history because it was, short, to the point, and was a eulogy to those who lost their lives at Gettysburg.
Everett was invited to speak at Gettysburg and Lincoln was a mere afterthought. On the day of the speech, the crowd listened to Everett for two hours speak before Lincoln. Some people probably didn’t even hear Lincoln when he gave his “little speech” of 272 words. This speech was given only 4 months after the bloodiest war on American soil. Lincoln gave a Eulogy dedicated to those lost at Gettysburg. Lincoln states “We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives so this nation might live.” Lincoln only spoke for 2 minutes and changed the meaning of the war to preserve the union and protect it even by the means of war so the men died will not die in vain.
Lincoln gave the speech during America’s lowest point in history. He gave the speech to uplift the spirits of Union. He uplifts the spirits so the living can keep fighting against the South to preserve the Union and democracy. Lincoln stated “Now we are engaged in a great civil war testing whether that nation or any nation conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.”
This speech gave so much to the American people in hope and respect to those past away. He made us never forget the lives lost on that day in Gettysburg. This speech is considered one of the most eloquent speeches ever given.
Nathan Pflugmacher
Fisher High School
Fisher, Il